Decoy with anchor device

ABSTRACT

A decoy comprising: (a) an anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spool connected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate to the spool, wherein a gap separates the spool and the locking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small so that the spool is prevented from rotating and the gap in a deployment position is sufficiently large so that the spool free rotates; (b) an anchor; and (c) an anchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in the locked position assists in retracting the anchor and in the deployment position allows the anchor to deploy.

FIELD

The present teachings generally relate to a decoy including an improvedanchor deployment device and more particularly to a plurality ofcollapsible features and an anchor deployment devices that are locatedentirely within the decoy.

BACKGROUND

Generally, decoys are used for hunting and attracting game such aswaterfowl. Several decoys are typically deployed so that an appearanceof multiple waterfowl in a given area is created. Each waterfowl decoyfloats and each decoy is maintained in a position by an anchor that isconnected to the decoy so that the decoy may have some movement due towind and waves, but is generally maintained in a deployed location.However, the depth of the water may vary between each of the decoys orfrom hunting trip to hunting trip, deployment location to deploymentlocation, or both so that one standard anchor line may be too short forone deployment and too long for another deployment. For example, thewater may be two to five feet deep when ground hunting from a groundblind and ten to twenty feet deep when hunting from a layout boat, thus,the length of the anchor lines may have to be changed and/or varied fromuse to use.

Further, after use a plurality of decoys are typically placed into onecarrying device. When in a carrying device, each of the anchor lines maybecome intertwined with other anchor lines, other decoys, or both sothat during a subsequent use, time and effort are spent separating eachdecoy. Moreover, each decoy may include a head and a keel that projectfrom a body of the decoy and the head and keel may project in such amanner that it is difficult to arrange the decoys in the carrying deviceso that multiple carrying devices are needed to carry the decoys from avehicle to a hunting location and back to the vehicle.

Examples of decoys are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D394895; 1,789,649;1,951,429; 1,967,902; 2,917,857; 3,079,719; 3,704,538; 4,340,192;4,674,219; 4,757,630; 4,826,099; 4,827,653; 5,279,063; 5,367,813;5,449,308; 5,893,230; 5,941,008; 6,412,210; 6,487,811; 6,760,993;7,117,628; 8,485,856 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2002/0157299; 2003/0162200; 20040163300; and 2013/0014423 all of whichare expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. What isneeded is a decoy that includes an anchor system that rapidly deploys ananchor to a variety of depths. What is needed is a decoy with aplurality of parts that are movable from a deployed state to a storedstate when the decoy is not in use so that the decoys can be efficientlystored. What is needed is an anchor device that is substantially locatedwithin an open space within the decoy so that the anchor device ismaintained out of water. It would be attractive to have an anchor lineguide that prevents water from entering an open space in a decoy, theanchor device, or both. It would be attractive to have a head that ismovable and lockable in virtually any position. It would be attractiveto have a vibrator that vibrates the decoy when in a deployed state. Itwould be attractive to have one or more movable keels that movablebetween a stored state and a deployed state.

SUMMARY

One possible embodiment of the present teachings include: a decoycomprising: (a) an anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spoolconnected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate tothe spool, wherein a gap separates the spool and the locking member andthe gap in a locked position is sufficiently small so that the spool isprevented from rotating and the gap in a deployment position issufficiently large so that the spool free rotates; (b) an anchor; and(c) an anchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so that the spoolin the locked position assists in retracting the anchor and in thedeployment position allows the anchor to deploy.

One possible embodiment of the present teachings include: a decoycomprising: (a) an anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spoolconnected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate tothe spool, (iv) a lock device at least partially located within thelocking member, wherein a gap separates the spool and the locking memberand the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small so that the spoolis prevented from rotating by the lock device extending between thespool and the locking member and the gap in a deployment position issufficiently large so that the spool is disposed over the lock deviceand the spool is free to rotate; (b) an anchor; (c) an anchor lineconnecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in the lockedposition assists in retracting the anchor and in the deployment positionallows the anchor to deploy; and (d) one or more collapsible keelslocated on a bottom of the decoy so that during use the one or morecollapsible keels during use are extended below the decoy and duringstorage the collapsible keels are collapsed into a keel recess so thatthe one or more collapsible keels are substantially planar with thebottom of the decoy.

Another possible embodiment of the present teachings include: a decoycomprising: (a) a body having a recess; (b) a cover covering the recessin the body so that the decoy is substantially fluid resistant, whereinthe cover includes a cover locking member; (c) an anchor device locatedin the recess, the anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spoolconnected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate tothe spool, (iv) a lock device at least partially located within thelocking member, (v) a bias member in communication with the lock deviceso that the bias member biases the lock device towards the spool; (vi) afastener that is connected to and extends from the crank to the lockdevice through the spool; (vii) a locking member fastener connecting thelocking member to the decoy, wherein a gap separates the spool and thelocking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small sothat the spool is prevented from rotating by the lock device extendingbetween the spool and the locking member and the gap in a deploymentposition is sufficiently large so that the spool is disposed over thelock device and the spool is free to rotate; (d) an anchor; (e) ananchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in thelocked position assists in retracting the anchor and in the deploymentposition allows the anchor to deploy; (f) one or more collapsible keelslocated on a bottom of the decoy so that during use the one or morecollapsible keels during use are extended below the decoy and duringstorage the collapsible keels are collapsed into a keel recess so thatthe one or more collapsible keels are substantially planar with thebottom of the decoy; and (g) a head having a head locking member that iscomplementary to the cover locking member so that the head is movable toa plurality of positions and the head is lockable in any of theplurality of positions.

The present teachings, provide a decoy that includes an anchor systemthat rapidly deploys an anchor to a variety of depths. The presentteachings provide a decoy with a plurality of parts that are movablefrom a deployed state to a stored state when the decoy is not in use sothat the decoys can be efficiently stored. The teachings herein providean anchor device that is substantially located within an open spacewithin the decoy so that the anchor device is maintained out of water.The teachings provide an anchor line guide that prevents water fromentering an open space in a decoy, the anchor device, or both. Thepresent teachings provide a head that is movable and lockable invirtually any position. The teachings herein provide a vibrator thatvibrates the decoy when in a deployed state. The teachings hereinprovide one or more movable keels that are movable between a storedstate and a deployed state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view a decoy;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the decoy;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a decoy with a cover removed;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of a decoy;

FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom view an embodiment of a decoy;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an anchor device connected to ananchor;

FIG. 8A is a bottom perspective view of an anchor device

FIG. 8B is an exploded view of an anchor device;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a spool;

FIG. 10 is a view of a top of the decoy and a bottom view of a headremoved from the decoy;

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decoy;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of a head of a decoy;

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a head and connectiondevice;

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an anchor device; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom view of a decoy including a propulsionsystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present invention as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachingsshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The present teachings claim priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/873,896, filed on Sep. 5, 2013 the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for allpurposes. The decoy may be any decoy that may be used to attract game.Preferably, the decoy may be any decoy that floats. More preferably, thedecoy may be a waterfowl decoy. Even more preferably, the decoy is aduck or goose decoy. However, the decoy may be a decoy for swans,cranes, herons, egerets, cormorants, shore birds, seagulls teals,wigeons, mergansers, scoters, the like, or a combination thereof. Thedecoy may be one piece. Preferably, the decoy is made of a plurality ofpieces, some of which are movable pieces. The decoy may include asubstantially solid interior. Preferably, the decoy includes a hollowinterior. The decoy may be made of any material that floats, anymaterial that is resistant to shot from a gun, can withstand shot from agun and continue to float, or a combination thereof. The decoy may bemade of a natural material, a synthetic material, include plastic,include a polymer, include an elastomer, or a combination thereof. Thedecoy may be molded, blow molded, pultruded, injection molded, plasticmolded, the like, or a combination thereof. The decoy may be made ofplastic, delrin, a thermoplastic, a fiber reinforced material, anelastomer, a thermoset, or a combination thereof. The decoy has a front,back, right side, left side, top, and bottom.

The front of the decoy may be the side of the decoy that includes ahead, where the anchor is deployed, that includes a vibrator, apropulsion system, that has the largest width, an anchor port, or acombination thereof. The back of the decoy is opposite the front of thedecoy. The back of the decoy may be: where the anchor is deployed,tapered to a point, include a vibrator, include a keel, an anchor portor a combination thereof. The right side and the left side of the decoymay be a mirror image of each other. The right side and left side maybe: solid, substantially free of holes so that water cannot enter thedecoy, or both. The bottom may be: substantially covered and/or entirelycovered with water when the decoy is deployed; include one or morefasteners for connecting one or more components; include one or morefastener recesses so that the fasteners are flush with the bottom, arecountersunk, are hidden from view, or a combination thereof; include oneor more keel recesses so that the keels in a storage position are flush,countersunk, hidden from view, or a combination thereof; an anchor port;a vibrator attachment; a hinge; a pivot point for the keels; one or morethrough holes for connecting a crank, an anther device, the head, or acombination thereof, one or more keels; one or more vibrators; apropulsion system, or a combination thereof. The bottom side may bedirectly opposite a top side. The top side may be any side that islocated substantially out of the water when the decoy is deployed inwater. The top side may include: a crank, a head, a cover, an crankrecess, or a combination thereof.

The cover may function to prevent fluid from entering the decoy from thetop. The cover may include one or more holes so that one or morefeatures may extend through the cover. The cover may include one or morerecesses (e.g., crank recess) so that one or more decoy features may becountersunk, extend into the cover, be flush with the cover, be fitwithin the cover and hidden from view under a movable member, or acombination thereof. The one or more recesses may function to receive afeature of the decoy so that the feature is concealed from view. The oneor more recesses may receive a movable feature so that the movablefeature is prevented from moving when the one or more movable featuresis located in the recess. For example, a crank connected to an anchordevice may be folded into a recess and the recess may prevent movementof the crank so that the crank is prevented from rotating and deployingand/or further deploying an anchor. In another example, a fastener maybe placed into a recess and the recess may prevent movement of thefastener so that the fastener may maintain the cover locked on the body.

The cover may include one or more connecting features, one or morealternating teeth, or both for connecting the cover to the body. Thecover may include one or more or more through holes, one or morerecesses, one or more locking members, or a combination thereof. Thecover may be integrally connected to the body of the decoy, may be aseparate piece, or a combination of both. The cover may be complementaryto the body so that the body and cover form a sealed connection. Thecover may be locked on the body by the head, the crank, or both;hingedly connected to the body; snap fit on the body; form aninterference fit with the body; or a combination thereof. The cover maybe connected to the body by any device so that a seal may extend betweenthe cover and the body.

The seal may function to prevent water from entering the decoy throughthe cover. The seal may be any device that assists in connecting thecover to the body of the decoy. The seal may be any device that assistsin maintaining a connection between the cover and the body. The seal maybe any device that extends around a periphery of the cover, a peripheryof a recess in the body, or both. The seal may be made of any materialthat assists in preventing water from penetrating the decoy through thecover, an opening in the body, or both. The seal may create pressurebetween the cover and the body so that the cover and body are fixedlyconnected. The seal may be any device that assists one or more locking,features in locking one or more components of the decoy together,retaining the head within the decoy, or both

The one or more locking members (i.e., cover locking members) may be anyfeature located in the cover that assists in Pocking the cover to thebody, assists in locking a head to the cover, locking the head in aposition, or a combination thereof. The one or more locking members mayfunction to lock, the cover to the body. The one or more locking membersmay be the crank, the head, or both. The one or more locking members maybe a series of ribs, raised features, detents, or a combination thereofthat assist in locking the head in a specific position. The one or morelocking members may be any member that is complementary to one or morelocking members of the head so that the cover assists on preventingmovement of the head when the head is moved to a desired location. Thelocking members may be in a donut configuration, a torpid configuration,a straight configuration, located intermittently around a circle, or acombination thereof. The one or more locking members may be used inconjunction with the head and a fastener so that as the fastener istightened to connect the head on the decoy, the cover is moved into andconnected to the body of the decoy.

The head may be any part of the decoy that provides the decoy with anappearance of a desired species of game, of waterfowl, or preferably aduck. The head may be any removable part of the decoy. The head may beany part of the decoy that extends through the cover, the body, or both.The head may be any part of the decoy that assists in locking a coverunto the body. The head may be fixedly connected to a cover, a body, orboth and is rotationally movable. The head may be permanently mounted tothe cover and the cover may be rotationally movable around the head sothat a recess, an internal chamber, or both in the body is accessible.The head may be permanently located in the decoy and movable,extendable, releasable, or a combination thereof so that head mayrelease a seal between the cover and the body such that the cover ismovable about the head so that a recess, an internal chamber, or both inthe decoy are accessible. The head may be removable from the decoy sothat once removed the cover may be removed from the body so that therecess, an internal chamber, or both are exposed. The head may beconnected to the cover by one or more locking devices (i.e., headlocking device).

The head locking device may be any device that connects the head to thedecoy. The head locking device may be any device that allows the head torotationally move, laterally move, longitudinally move, or a combinationthereof without the head being removed. The head locking device mayremovably connect the head to the body, permanently connect the head tothe body, or a combination of both. Preferably, the head looking deviceassists in connecting the head and the cover to the body. The headlocking device may extend all of the way through the cover, the body, orboth. The head locking device may be any fastener that assists inconnecting the head to the body, the cover, or both. The head lockingdevice may be a bolt, a screw, a nail, a threaded member, a christmastree, rivet, pin, pinned member, push pin, a clip, or a combinationthereof. The head locking device may be a ribbed portion of the headthat may be gripped by a head fastening device. The head locking devicemay connect the head within the body, to the body, or both. The headlocking device may include one or more ribs, one or more recesses, orboth that may be used to form a connection. The head locking device mayform a snap fit, a friction fit, a locked connection, may extend into aportion of the decoy, or a combination thereof. The one or more lockingdevice may have a positive connection feature that may be contacted by ahead fastening device. The head and head locking device may be removablefrom the decoy so that different heads may be interchanged into thedecoy. The head may be removable from the head locking device.Preferably, the head is integrally part of the head locking device. Thehead may be changed so that the decoy has a resting configuration, thehead is up, the head is down, the mouth is open, the mouth is closed,the head is extended, or a combination thereof. A plurality of differenthead configurations may be used with each decoy. The head locking devicemay be any fastener where the tightness of the fastening may be varied,adjusted, or both. Preferably, the head locking device is a threadedbolt. The head locking device may be any device that may be connected tothe decoy by one or more head fastening devices.

The head fastening device may be any device that assists in connectingthe head locking device to a decoy. The head fastening device may be acomplementary feature that assists in maintaining the head lockingdevice within the decoy, in the decoy, or both. The heads fasteningdevice may function to allow rotation of the head without the head beingremoved. The head fastening device may be located within the decoy,located outside of the decoy, fixed in a wall of the decoy, located on abottom of the decoy, located in a recess, or a combination thereof. Thehead fastening device may grip a portion of the head, the head lockingdevice, or both. The head fastening device be movable so that the head,the head locking device, or both may extend into the head fasteningdevice. The head fastening device may receive one or more ribs, positivefeatures, or both to lock the head in the decoy. The head fasteningdevice may be opposing gripping portions that grip the head lockingdevice. The head fastening device may extend into the head lockingdevice so that a fixed connection is formed. The head fastening devicemay longitudinally move, radially move, laterally move, or a combinationthereof so that the head locking device is released, gripped, or both.The head fastening device may be moved by one or more actuators, returndevices, or both. Preferably, the head fastening device is a wing nut.The head fastening device may be a nut, a bolt, a wing nut, a lockingmember, a threaded member, a clamp, or a combination thereof. The headfastening device may be used to pull the head towards the bottom so thata head locking member is pulled into communication with the cover, acover locking member, or both and the cover locked to the body.

One or more actuators may function to move the head fastening device tolock the head to the decoy, release the head from the decoy, or both.The head fastening device may actuate to move a portion of the headfastening device from the head locking device. The actuators may moveone or more portions of the head fastening device. The one or moreactuators may be a push bottom to move the head fastening device. Theone or more actuators may be a portion that is gripped, twisted,laterally moved, longitudinally moved, or a combination hereof torelease and/or add a head to a decoy. One or more return devices, biasdevices, or both may be located within the actuator to move theactuator, return the actuator to a locked position, move the actuator toa home position, or a combination thereof. The one or more returndevices may be a spring, an elastic piece, or both. The one or morereturn devices may resist releasing of the head. The one or more returndevices may be located within the one or more actuators and proximate toone or more head locking members.

The head, locking member may be any member that assists in retaining amovable head on the decoy, locking a head in a position, or both. Thehead locking member may be any member that is complementary to the coverlocking member. The features of the cover locking member areincorporated herein and may be used as the head locking member. The headlocking member may be any part of the decoy that extends around a headlocking device so that the head locking member prevents movement of thehead about the head locking device. The head locking member may belocated proximate to an anchor device, assist in holding the cover overthe anchor device, or both.

The anchor device may be any device that assists in deploying andretracting one or more anchors. The anchor device may be any device thatrapidly deploys one or more anchors. The anchor device may free spoolduring deployment so that the anchor deploys without interaction from auser. The anchor device may fit entirely within a decoy, have a portionthat extends out of the decoy, or both. The anchor device may include aplurality of parts that work in combination to deploy and retract one ormore anchors so that the anchors retain the decoy in place. The anchordevice may include one or more cranks.

The one or more cranks may be any device that assists in deployingand/or retracing one or more anchors. The one or more cranks may be afeature that a user grips to move one or more parts of the anchor deviceso that an anchor is retracted, deployed, or both. The one or morecranks may be a part of the anchor device that is external the decoy andis in communication with an anchor device located in an internal cavityof the decoy. The one or more cranks may fit within a portion of thecover so that the crank is prevented from moving, is concealed fromview, is planar with the cover, or a combination thereof. The crank maydrive one or more cogs, gears, or both that drive one or more spoolslocated within the decoy. The crank may be a direct drive with a spoollocated within the decoy. The crank may be connected to one or morefasteners by one or more crank caps.

The one or more crank caps may be any device that connects the crank toone or more pieces of the anchor device. The one or more crank caps mayfunction to release or retract an anchor. The one or more crank caps mayfunction to connect to a crank so that an anchor can be released and/orretracted. The crank caps may function to extend into the body when in astorage position and extend out of a body into a rotation position. Theone or more crank caps may have a portion that axially moves along afastener. The entire crank cap may be axially extendable along afastener. A portion of a crank cap may be axially extendable along afastener. The crank cap may function as a release button (e.g., a buttonto free spool the spool and weight during deployment). For example,pressing on the crank cap may allow the spool to freely rotate so thatthe anchor is deployed. The crank cap may include a connection portionand a sliding portion.

The connection portion may form a connection with the fastener. Theconnection portion may form a connection with the fastener so that asthe crank cap is rotated the spool is freed to move or is locked (e.g.,moved from a deployment state to a locked state or vice versa). Theconnection portion may rotationally move about the fastener and as theconnection portion rotates the connection portion may axially move. Theconnection portion may have a rotatable connection with a fastener. Theconnection portion when axially moved may form a gap between the lockingmember so that the spool is free to move, is locked, or both. The one ormore connection portions may be substantially axially static relative tothe sliding portion when the sliding portion is moved into a storageposition, a retraction position, and a deployment position.

The one or more sliding portions may be axially movable along afastener, the connection portion, or both. The one or more slidingportions may extend around the connection portion. The one more slidingportions may axially move about the connection portion. The one or moresliding portions may move entirely into the decoy, extend partiallyand/or entirely out of the decoy, or both. The one or more slidingportions may be connected to the connection portion by one or more pins.The sliding portion may move axially along the connection portion and beretained on the connection portion by one or more pins. The slidingportion may include one or more, slots that allow the sliding portion toaxially move about the connection portion.

The one or more crank caps may include a slot so that the crank cap andthe crank are axially movable along the axis of the fastener. The one ormore crank caps may be partially and/or fully extendable into the body,the cap, or both of the decoy. The crank caps may include one or morethrough holes that receive a pin, a movable member, or both that preventthe crank cap from axially moving when the crank is in a stored positionand allow the crank cap to axially move when the crank is in a rotationposition. The crank caps may include one or more positioning featuressuch as recesses, detents, or both.

The one or more positioning features may function to freeze the crankcap in an up position, a down position, or a position therebetween. Theone or more positioning features may function to freeze the crank cap inan extended position, a retracted position, or a position therebetween.The one or more positioning features may prevent the crank cap fromretracting back into the decoy when moved to an extended position. Theone or more positioning features may snap into place, lock into place,be tightened, pressed into place, form a friction fit, form aninterference fit, or a combination thereof. The one or more positioningfeatures may be a static feature located within the crank cap thatminimizes movement of the crank cap. The one or more positioningfeatures may include one or more static members, one or more movablemembers, or both.

The one or more positioning features may include one or more staticfeatures such as a detent, a recess, a cavity, an inset, or acombination thereof that receives one or more movable members thatassist in suspending the crank cap, freeze the crank cap, or both in apredetermined position. The one or more static members may be part ofthe crank cap, the connection portion, the sliding portion, or acombination thereof. The one or more static members may not moverelative to the connection portion, the sliding portion, or both. Theone or more static members may move relative to the one or morefasteners. The one or more positioning members may include one or morestatic members and one or more movable members.

The one or more movable members may function to move between two or morestatic features. The one or more movable members may function to movewith a fastener, relative to a fastener, moved by a fastener, or acombination thereof. The one or more movable members may be part of afastener that moves when the sliding member moves. The one or moremovable members may move relative to both the fastener and theconnection portion. The one or more movable members may move between thefastener and the connection portion; the connection portion and thesliding portion: or a combination of both. The one or more movablemembers may roll, spin, rotate, slide, or a combination thereof relativeto the connection portion, the sliding portion, the faster, or acombination thereof. The one or more movable members may move and fallinto the static features so that movement of the crank cap is inhibited.The one or more movable members may be a ball bearing, a bb, a sphere, amarble, cylinder, or a combination thereof. The one or more movablemembers may be a pin, a feature that connects the crank cap to afastener, or both.

The pins, the movable member, or both may extend through the one or morethrough holes when the crank is in a fully stored position, a fullrotation position, or both. The pins, the movable member, or both mayfully and/or partially retract when the crank is partially in the storedposition, partially in the rotation position, or both. For example, thecrank may be moved so that the pins, the movable member, or both moveout of the through holes in the crank cap so that the crank cap isaxially movable and then the crank is fully moved into the rotationposition so that the crank cap is locked in an extended position. Theone or more crank caps may be a pivot point for the crank. The one ormore crank caps may be a hinge that the crank rotates about so that thecrank is foldable from a deployed position to a storage position. Theone or more crank caps may be an integral part of the crank that assiststhe crank in deploying and/or retracing an anchor. The one or more crankcaps may be a removable device that assists the crank in deployingand/or retracing an anchor. Preferably, the one or more crank capsinclude a connection feature so that the crank cap connects the crank toa fastener. The crank cap may include one or more fastening features sothat the crank cap cannot be removed from the anchor device withoutunlocking, removing, or both the fastening features. More preferably,the crank cap includes threads for connecting to a fastener.

The fastener may function to connect the crank to the anchor device. Thefastener may be any device that assists the crank in retracting and/ordeploying an anchor. The fastener may extend substantially the height ofthe anchor device. The fastener may connect the crank to a spool so thatthe spool may be used to deploy and/or retract an anchor. The fastenermay be directly connected to the spool, indirectly connected to thespool, or a combination thereof. For example, the fastener may beconnected to one or more gears and the one or more gears may be incontact with the spool so that the spool is moved. The fastener mayinclude one or more shoulders so that the fastener cannot be removedfrom the anchor device, so that the fastener can only be removed in onedirection, or both. The faster may include one or more connectionfeatures that connect the anchor device to an anchor cap, the fastener,or both. The fastener and one or more adjacent components may be formcompression forces on one or both sides of the spool. For example, afastener, the crank cap, a bias member, or a combination thereof may bemoved into contact with the spool so that as fastener is moved the spoolis moved. The fastener may be a cylindrical feature that may be rotatedduring use so that an anchor may be deployed and/or retracted. Thefastener may be a bolt, a threaded member, an integral part of a spoolthat extends from the spool, or a combination thereof. Preferably, thefastener is a bolt that extends through the anchor device and isconnected to the crank, the crank cap, or both. The fastener may be partof the spool, extend through the spool, extend partially through thespool, or a combination thereof.

The spool may be connected to the fastener so that as the fastener movesthe spool is moved with the fastener. The spool may function to assistin retracting and/or deploying an anchor. The spool may be any devicethat anchor line is stored on, wrapped around, or both. The spool may beany device that may be moved in a first direction during deployment andmoved in a second direction during retraction. The spool may be anyspool that is sufficiently small so that the spool may fit within adecoy. The spool may be sufficiently large so that the spool may retractan anchor during movement with minimal movement of the spool. The spoolmay be of sufficient size so that upon one rotation of the spool 5 cm ormore, 10 cm or more, 15 cm or more, or even 20 cm or more of line iswound around the spool. The spool may be sized so that upon one rotationof the spool 1 m or less, 75 cm or less, or about 50 cm or less iswrapped around the spool. The spool may have sufficient strength to liftan anchor, withstand impacts caused by waves and/or wind pushing thedecoy and an anchor line tugging on the spool, force caused by a lockdevice, or a combination thereof. The spool may have sufficient strengthto lift a 1 Kg weight or more, a 3 Kg weight or more, or even a 5 Kgweight or more. The spool may be round, oval, square, rectangular, or acombination thereof. The spool may rotate around an axis. The spool mayhave an eccentric rotation. Preferably, the spool is substantially roundand rotates around the fastener. The spool may have one or more upperedges that retain the anchor line within the spool, so that the anchorline is directed onto the spool, or both. The spool may have one or morerecesses on a top side or a bottom side that include one or morerecesses and preferably a plurality of recesses.

The one or more spool recesses may be any part of the spool that is adepression that extends into the spool, through the spool, or both. Theone or more spool recesses may be any part of the spool that acts as abrake, prevents movement of the spool, or both. Preferably, each spoolincludes a plurality of spool recesses and the spool recesses are evenlydistributed around the spool so that a lock device may extend into aspool recess at virtually any point. The spool may have 3 or more, 4 ormore, 5 or more, 6 or more, 7 or more, 8 or more, 9 or more, 10 or more,12 or more, 15 or more, or even 20 or more spool recesses. The one ormore spool recesses may be of sufficient size so that the spool recessesreceive another part of the anchor device. Preferably, the one or morespool recesses receive a lock device that contacts a portion of thespool recess and prevents movement of the spool. More preferably, thelock device fits within the one or more spool recesses so that the spoolis prevents from rotating in a deployment direction and a retractiondirection simultaneously.

The lock device may function to prevent movement of the spool. The lockdevice may be any part of the anchor device that prevents movement ofthe spool, locks the spool, slows movement of the spool, or both.Preferably, the lock device prevents the spool from rotating. The lockdevice may be static. The lock device may be movable along the axis ofthe spool. The lock device when moved along its axis away from the spoolmay allow the spool to rotate. The lock device may be moved away fromthe spool so that a gap is created. The gap may be sufficiently large sothat the spool freely rotates without interference from the lock device.The lock device may contact the spool and the spool may rotate anddeploy an anchor. The force, pressure, or both created by the lockdevice on the spool may be sufficiently small when the crank is rotatedso that the anchor device releases the anchor. For example, the lockdevice may intermittently contact the spool but the spool may rotate anddeploy the anchor. The lock device may be jointed any may bend, fold, beangled, extended along the axis of the spool, retracted along the axisof the spool, or a combination thereof. The lock device may be planar,include one angled edge, two angled edges, or a combination thereof. Oneedge may be angled so that during rotation of the crank the edge maymove the lock device down so that the anchor line may be retracted. Thelock device may be rigid. The lock device may be any device that issufficiently rigid to prevent movement of a spool caused by an anchorbeing pulled down, by waves jarring the decoy, or both. The lock devicemay withstand the weight of the anchor or more, a weight of about 1 Kgor more, about 3 Kg or more, or about 5 Kg or more. Preferably, the lockdevice is static and the spool moves along its axis towards the lockdevice in a locked position, and away from the lock device in adeployment position (e.g., a free spool position). The lock device mayprevent movement in the deployment direction, the retraction direction,or both. The lock device may prevent movement in the deploymentdirection and may be moved out of the way when the spool is moved in theretraction direction so that during retraction if the crank is releasedthe spool may be prevented from re-deploying the anchor. The spool, thelock device, or both may be moved away from and/or towards one anotherby one or more bias members.

The one or more bias members may be any device that assists in movingthe spool axially along its axis, moving the lock device axiallyrelative to the spool axis, or both. The one or more bias members may beany device that moves the spool off of the lock device so that the spoolmay be moved, moves the lock device into a spool recesses when the spoolhas not moved into a free spool position, or both. The one or more biasmembers may be any device that moves the spool away from the lock deviceso that the spool may move. The one or more bias members may be locatedabove the locking member, below the locking member, in the lockingmember, or a combination thereof. The one or more bias members may be aspring, an elastomeric material (e.g., a rubber ring that extends overand/or under the lock device), a bent material, a spring steel, acompressible member, or a combination thereof. The one or more biasmembers may be made of metal, an elastomer, rubber, an elasticallydeformable polymer and/or plastic, or a combination thereof. The one ormore bias members may create a bias force between the spool and alocking member so that the bias member axially moves the spool away fromthe locking member. The one or more bias members may create a bias forcebetween the lock device and the spool so that the spool is preventedfrom moving by an interlock being formed between the spool and thelocking member by the lock device, so that the lock device is moved outof the recess during retraction and reinserted into a subsequent spoolrecess by the bias member, or both.

The locking member may be any device that locks the anchor device to thedecoy, a bottom of the decoy, or both. The locking member may be staticand/or movable. The locking member may house one or more, two or more,or three or more components of the anchor device. The locking member maylock one or more anchor device components so that the components aremaintained static relative to the locking member, relative to the spool,relative to the decoy, or a combination thereof. The locking member maybe any device that includes one or more through holes, one or moreconnection ports, one or more partial holes, one or more recesses, or acombination thereof for connecting together two or more adjacent piecesdirectly and/or indirectly. The locking member may act as a vessel forindirectly connecting the spool to the decoy. The locking member may actas a pivot point for the faster, as an axis for the spool to rotateabout, as a stabilizer to stabilize the fastener as the fastener isrotated, or a combination thereof. The locking member may be any shapeso that one or more components of the anchor device is connectable tothe locking member. The locking member may be any size so that thelocking member fits within an internal cavity of the decoy. The lockingmember may be round, oval, square, rectangular, a polygon, or acombination thereof. The locking member may include one or more pegsthat form a complementary fit with the decoy so that the locking memberis prevented from moving. The one or more pegs may be a projectionand/or recess in the locking member that extends into and/or receives aportion of the decoy so that the locking member is retained is aposition. The locking member may include at least one port, throughhole, partial recess, or a combination thereof of receiving at least aportion of the fastener, the lock device, a bias member, or acombination thereof. Preferably, the lock device extends at leastpartially of the way through the locking member and the bias memberprevents the lock device from extending all of the way through thelocking member. Preferably, the fastener passes substantially all of theway through the locking member. More preferably, the fastener extendsinto the locking member until the fastener contacts an anti-rotationdevice.

The anti-rotation device may function to substantially prevent rotationof the fastener when the crank is rotated. The anti-rotation device mayincrease friction to the fastener so that the fastener is prevented fromrotating when the connection between the crank and the fastener is not,tight, but allows for some slip when the connection between the fastenerand crank is tight so that components therebetween are not compressed,damaged, or both. The anti-rotation device may be made of any materialthat prevents the fastener from rotating during movement of the crank inthe deployment direction (e.g., unloosening the connection between thecrank and the fastener) so that the spool may spin freely. Theanti-rotation device may be made of any material that provides some slipduring movement of the crank in the retraction direction (e.g., rotatingthe spool so that line is wound around the spool). The anti-rotationdevice may be a bias member as is discussed herein, may be made of thesame materials as the bias member, or both. The anti-rotation device mayaxially bias the fastener when the anchor device is in the deploymentposition so that the gap between the spool and the locking member isincreased. For example, as the crank is moved in the deploymentdirection the anti-rotation device moves the fastener axially so thatthe gap between the spool and the locking member increases in size sothat the gap is sufficiently large that the lock device cannot preventrotation of the spool. The gap may be about 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more,3 mm or more, or even about 4 mm or more. The gap may be any distance sothat the spool may rotate relative to the anchor device, the lockingmember, the anti-rotation device, or a combination thereof. The gap maybe any distance so that the spool may freely rotate. The anti-rotationdevice may be made of a compressible material so that when the crank isloosened from the deployment position the fastener is axially moved. Theanti-rotation device may be connected to a locking member fastener, afastener, or both. The anti-rotation device may include a threadedportion. The anti rotation device may indirectly move one or morespacers located along the fastener.

The one or more spacers may be any device that creates a space betweentwo or more adjacent components of the anchor device. The one or morespacers may assist in preventing rotation of the spool. The one or morespacers may create compression forces on the spool so that the spool isprevented from rotating. The compression forces of the spacers on thespool may assist in preventing rotation of the spool, may be the onlydevice that prevents rotation of the spool, or both. For example, whenthe crank is moved in the retraction direction the crank may compressthe one or more spacers on one or more sides of the spool so that a thecompression forces of the spacers on the spool move the spool directlywith the crank. The one or more spacers may set the minimum gap betweenthe spool and the locking member. The one or more spacers may have aheight of 1 mm or more, 2 mm or more, 3 mm or more. The one or morespacers may have a height of 1 cm or less, 8 mm or less, or about 6 mmor less. The one or more spacers may move the spool when a shoulder ofthe fastener pushes on the spool. The one or more spacers may extendthrough the cover of the decoy. The anchor device may be free ofspacers. The one or more spacers may contact one side of the cover andthe crank cap may contact an opposing side of the cover so that a sealis formed around a through hole in the cover. The one or more spacersmay extend along the fastener that is substantially parallel to thelocking member fastener.

The one or more locking member fasteners may be any device that connectsthe locking member to the decoy so that the locking member is preventedfrom moving. The one or more locking members may be used in conjunctionwith one or more pegs so that the one or more locking member fastenersand one or more pegs prevent movement of the locking member fastener.The locking member fastener may extend through a through hole in thelocking member so that locking member and the locking member fastenerare fixedly connected. The locking member fastener may extend through abottom of the decoy and partially into the locking member. The lockingmember fastener may be any fastener discussed herein. Preferably, thelocking member fastener is a threaded member such as a bolt. The lockingmember fastener may extend, away from the spool, the spool cover, orboth.

The spool cover may be any device that covers all or a portion of thespool and assists in placing anchor line on the spool, maintaininganchor line on the spool, or both. The spool cover may surround thespool so that the anchor line is guided onto the spool through the spoolcover. The spool cover may be located between an upper edge and a loweredge of the spool so that the spool cover retains the anchor line on thespool. The spool cover may be substantially circular, donut shaped,torpid shaped, complementary to the spool, or a combination thereof. Thespool cover may be made of any material that is resistant to damage fromwater, is sufficiently rigid to withstand weight on the anchor line, orboth. The spool cover may be made of metal, steel, stainless steel,plastic, a polymer, rubber, or a combination thereof. The spool covermay include an exit port that may assist connect to an anchor line guideand assist in guiding anchor line onto the spool.

The exit port may be located at any location on the spool cover so thatline is guided onto and off of the spool. The exit port may be angled sothat the anchor line is guided tangential to the spool and helicallywrapped around the spool. The exit port may be any hole through thespool cover so that anchor line may be added and subtracted from thespool. The exit port may be connected to an anchor line guide.

The anchor line guide may be any device that extends between the exitport of the spool cover and the anchor port in the decoy. The anchorline guide may be a tubular structure that surrounds all or a portion ofthe anchor line. The anchor line guide may be substantially straight.The anchor line guide may include one or more dips, bows, arcuateportions, bends, concave bends, or a combination thereof. The anchorline guide may enter the decoy and curve upwards toward the cover thedecoy. The anchor line guide may prevent water from entering the decoy,from entering the decoy and remaining within the decoy, from enteringthe anchor device, or a combination thereof. Water may enter the anchorline guide and an arcuate portion of the anchor line guide may prevent,water from entering an internal space in the decoy. The anchor lineguide may be made of any material so that the anchor line is guidedthrough the anchor port of the decoy and unto the spool. The anchor lineguide may be made of any material so that the anchor line guide isresistant damage from water, is sufficiently rigid to maintain a shape,is sufficiently rigid to assist in supporting a weight, is sufficientlystrong to resist damage from movement of the anchor line through theanchor line guide. The anchor line guide may be made of metal, plastic,a polymer, rubber, steel, delrin, styrene butadiene, or a combinationthereof. The anchor line guide may be sufficiently large so that one ormore anchor lines may extend through the anchor lien guide.

The anchor line may be any line so that an anchor may be deployed andretracted by the anchor line. The anchor line may be a single piece ofrope, a braded rope, a intertwined rope, a nautical rope, a nylon rope,or a combination thereof. The anchor line may be made of syntheticmaterial, natural material, nylon, hemp, metal, or a combinationthereof. The anchor line may be made of any material with sufficientstrength so that the anchor line may be used to deploy and retract andanchor.

The anchor may be any device that prevents the decoy from moving whendeployed. The anchor may extend from any position of the decoy. Theanchor may extend from and/or be connected the front, back, bottom, akeel, or a combination thereof. The anchor may be made of lead, steel,iron, or a combination thereof. The anchor may be made of any materialthat is resistant to damage from water and/or substantially preventsmovement of the decoy. The anchor may be coated. The anchor may beround, oval, include one or more prongs, include one or more hinges, oneor more projections, or a combination thereof. The anchor may maintainthe decoy in a direction, assist in maintaining the decoy pointed in aspecific direction, work in conjunction with one or more keels on thedecoy, or a combination thereof.

The decoy may include one or more keels. The one or more keels may beany device that assists in maintaining a decoy pointed in a specificdirection. The one or more keels may include one or more holes, caps, orboth. The one or more holes, caps, or both may allow for ingress oregress of weight for assisting in maintaining the decoy in an uprightposition. The one or more holes, caps, or both may allow for entry ofsand, water, a weight, or a combination thereof. The one or more keelsmay be any device that extends from the decoy into the water so that aswater flows past the keel the decoy is maintained in a direction. Theone or more keels may be a port keel and a starboard keel (e.g., onekeel is movable towards a starboard side for storage and one keel ismovable towards the port side for storage). The port keel and thestarboard keel may be substantially the same size, deployed tosubstantially the same angle, or both. The port keel and the starboardkeel may be deployed to different directions (e.g., the port keel mayextend to about a 75 degree angle from the bottom on the port side andthe starboard keel may extend to about a 75 degree angle from the bottomat the starboard side). The port keel and starboard keel may be alignedalong a plane, form a shape, be staggered, or a combination thereof. Theone or more keels may be an integral part of the decoy. Preferably, theone or more keels are movable, are foldable, are collapsible, rotatablearound an axis, or a combination thereof. The one or more keels mayinclude a hinge along an upper portion of the keel and the keel mayrotate around the hinge. The keel may be connected to the decoy via oneor more pins and the one or more pins may extend into the decoy. The oneor more pins and/or one or more integral projections may extend into arecess in the bottom of the decoy so that the one or more keels mayextend around the pins and retract into the keel recess.

The one or more keel recesses may be any part of the decoy that receivesthe one or more keels in a retracted state. The one or more keelrecesses may be any part of the decoy that stores the one or more keelsso that the keels are substantially flush with the bottom of the decoy,are counter sunk so that the keels are entirely located within therecesses, the keels are protected from damage during storage, or acombination thereof. The one or more keel recesses may be large enoughto receive one or more keels. Preferably, each of the one or more keelrecesses is substantially the same size and shape as each of the one ormore keels so that the keels fit within and are locked within the keelrecesses when the one or more keels are moved into the stored state. Theone or more keel recesses may include one or more detents, locks,projections, locking features, or a combination thereof to retain theone or more keels within the one or more keel recesses. The one or morekeel recesses may be located proximate to one or more vibratorfasteners.

The one or more vibrator fasteners may be any device that assists inconnecting one or more vibrators to the decoy. The one or more vibratorfasteners may be any device that extends from and/or is located withinthe decoy so that a vibrator may be connectedly secured to the decoy.The one or more vibrator fasteners may be threaded, a snap fit, asliding lock, a through hole, a projection that extends into thevibrator, a clip, a detent, or a combination thereof. The vibratorfasteners may extend from the decoy, receive a part that extends fromthe vibrator, or both.

The vibrator may be any device that shakes, moves, vibrates, or acombination thereof the decoy during use. The vibrator may be connectedto a decoy above water, below water, or a combination of both. Thevibrator may be connected to the decoy in the front, back, middle, or acombination thereof. The vibrator may be located at any location on thedecoy so that the vibrator does not become tangled in the anchor line.The vibrator may be any device that simulates ripples around a decoy sothat the decoy appears to be swimming. The vibrator may be any devicethat moves the decoy up and down so that the decoy appears to be moving,moves, or both. The vibrator may move the decoy from side to side,rotate the decoy around the anchor, or both. The vibrator may includeone or more vibration devices that create the vibrations during use.

The vibration devices may be any device that moves the decoy so that anappearance of motion is created. The vibration devices may be a counterweight that rotates producing motion, a weight that translates back andforth producing motion, a weight that translates up and down producingmotion, or a combination thereof. The vibration device may be any devicethat works in temperatures at about 0° C. or less. The vibration devicemay be of sufficient size so that the vibration device moves the body ofthe decoy and produces the appearance of movement. The vibration devicemay be of any size so that the decoy fits within a body portion that isconnected to a decoy.

The body of the vibrator may be any device that houses a vibrationdevice, one or more power sources, is water proof, is connectable to adecoy, or a combination thereof. The body of the vibrator may be anydevice that houses one or more, and preferably all of the internalcomponents of the vibrator so that the internal components are protectedfrom surrounding elements. The body may include one or more sealingfeatures that form a seal between the body and an end cap.

The end cap may be any device that connects to the body and forms asealed connection with the body. The end cap may be threaded, snap on,fastened, or a combination thereof to the body. The end cap and body maybe made of any material that is water proof, is sufficiently rigid sothat the vibrator vibrates a decoy, sufficiently malleable so that thevibrator is resistant to shot from a gun, or a combination thereof. Theend cap and body may be made of plastic, a polymer, a natural material,a synthetic material, delrin, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS),nylon, metal, aluminum, or a combination thereof. The end cap mayprotect one or more power sources that are retained within the body.

The one or more power sources may be any power source that moves avibration device so that the vibrator is moved. The one or more powersources may be a battery, a solar panel, a capacitor, a kineticgenerating and/or storage device, an automatic generating and/or storagedevice, or a combination thereof. The one or more power sources may beany power source that may work in a Temperature below 0° C. Preferably,the one or more power sources may be one or more batteries. The one ormore vibrators may be part of a propulsion system.

The propulsion system may function to move the decoy. The propulsionsystem may function to turn the decoy. The vibrators, the propulsionsystem, or both may be controlled by remote control. The propulsionsystem may function to create ripples, waves, or both. The propulsionsystem may include an impeller, propeller, air mover, water mover, or acombination thereof so that the decoy moves. The propulsion system maymove the decoy in forward, reverse, or both. The propulsion system mayhave a left half and a right half. The left half and right half may beused together so that the decoy moves in a straight line. The left halfand right half may be used separately to turn the decoy. The propulsionsystem may be connected to the power sources. The propulsion system maybe connected to a bottom of the decoy at a connection site.

The connection site may be the same connection site as the vibrator. Theconnection site may function to be interchangeable for one or morefunctional devices (e.g., vibrator, propulsion, rudder, or a combinationthereof). The connection site may be interchangeable so that thevibrator, propulsion system, or both may be connected. The connectionsite may be a snap fit, a rotation fit, a fastener, or a combinationthereof. The connection site may be located so that the keels are lockedin a retracted position, a deployed position, or both. The connectionsite may be located between keels. The one or more connection site maybe offset, located in the front, the back, or both so that thepropulsion system a movable weight, or both may cause the decoy to dive,tip, move, swim, rotate, or a combination thereof.

The decoy may include a pull over. The pull over may function to breakup the body of the decoy, provide movable parts to the decoy, providefeathers the decoy, prevent glare from the decoy, or a combinationthereof. The pull over may include feathers. The pull over may addfeathers to a predetermined portion of the decoy. The pull over may be amaterial that holds feathers so that the feathers are provided over thedecoy. The pull over may mirror the shape of the decoy. The pull overmay be elastic and conform to the shape of the decoy. The pull over mayhave enough force so that the pull over remains on the decoy in wind andwaves. The pull over may have feathers that are movable duringdeployment. The pull over may allow function of the crank when the pullover is deployed on the decoy. The feathers of the pull over may besynthetic, real feathers, or both. The feathers may be added to the pullover at after the pull over is added to the decoy.

The decoy may be part of a kit. The kit may include a body, one or morekeels, one or more heads and preferably two or more changeable heads, ananchor device, an anchor, anchor line, a vibrator, or a combinationthereof. The kit may include a body and the part of the decoy may beseparate from the kit. The kit may include a plurality of heads so thatthe decoy may be customized by changing heads. The kit may be free of avibrator, removable keels, removable heads, or a combination thereof.

The vibrator, anchor device, keels, heads, or a combination thereof maybe used in a method. The method may include one or more steps taughtherein performed in virtually any order. The method may include one ormore deployment steps. The one or more deployment steps may include astep of turning on a vibrator, connecting the vibrator to the decoy, orboth. The vibrator may be turned on by a switch, closing the end cap, orboth. The vibrator may be connected to the decoy. The head of the decoymay be loosened, rotated, tightened, or a combination thereof. The crankmay be moved in a loosening direction. The crank may be loosened untilthe spool is moved a sufficient distance that the lock device is free ofcontact with the spool so that the spool is free spun by the weight ofthe anchor, the anchor line free spins the anchor, or both. The crankmay be tightened so that a desired amount of anchor line is deployed andthe decoy is retained in a deployed location by the anchor. The crankmay rotated in a retraction direction so that the anchor is retracted,the anchor line is stored, or both. The one or more keels may be removedfrom a keel recess so that the keels are located below the decoy. Theone or more keels may be moved from the bottom of the decoy to adeployed state, moved into the bottom of the decoy into a stored state,or both. The one or more keels may be locked to the bottom of the decoy,unlocked from the bottom of the decoy, or both. The head may be moved toa plurality of positions. The head may be moved and locked in aplurality of positions. One or more heads may be interchanged. A headmay be removed and a different head placed on the decoy. The heads maybe tightened, loosened, or both.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a decoy 2. The decoy 2 includesa head 26 connected to a body 10. The head 26 includes a head lockingmember 32 and the body 10 includes a body locking member 22 so that thehead is movable and lockable in virtually any position. The decoy 2includes a front 12, a back 14, a top 16, and a bottom 18. The head 26is located on a top 16 of the decoy 2, a vibrator 90 is connected to abottom 19 and an anchor 64 extends from a front 12 of the decoy 2. Thetop 16 of the decoy includes a cover 20 that is retained on the body 10via the head 26 and a crank 42 that connected to an anchor device (notshown).

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the decoy 2 of FIG. 1 alongline 2-2. A head locking device 28 extends from the head 26 through thecover 20 and connects to a head fastening device 30 on the bottom 18 ofthe decoy 2 so that the cover 20 and head 26 are connected. An anchor 64and associated anchor line 60 extend out of a front of the decoy 2 withthe anchor line 60 extending through an anchor line guide 62 extendingthrough an inside of the decoy 2. An anchor device 40 is located insideof the decoy 2 with a crank 42 extending above the cover 20. The cover20 includes a crank recess 21 for receiving a portion of the crank sothat the crank 42 is low profile and assists in locking the crank 42 ina position during use and non-use to prevent rotation of the crank 42.The vibrator 90 is illustrated connected to the bottom 18 of the decoy2.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an example of a decoy. The body 10includes a cover 20 that is sealed to the body 10 by a seal 24 when thehead 26 is attached to the cover 20 by the head fastening device 30. Aport keel 70 and a starboard keel 72 are illustrated in a storedposition and are movable down during use to assist in controllingmovement of the decoy. The vibrator 90 is exploded so that an end cap 96and power sources 94 are removed from a body 92 that connects thevibrator 90 to the decoy body 10 by a vibrator fastener 98. An anchordevice 40 is exploded and separate from the anchor 64, anchor line 60,and anchor line guide 62 that connect the anchor 64 to the anchor device40 so that the anchor device 40 can be used to raise and lower theanchor 64. The anchor device 40 includes a crank 42 that is connected toa spool 46. The spool 46 is located within a spool cover 48 and theanchor line 60 extends through the anchor line guide 62 and the spoolcover 48 so that the anchor line 60 is wound and unwound around thespool 46 during deployment and retraction of the anchor 64. The crank 42is connected to the spool 46 by a fastener 44 that extends through thespool 46. A pair of spacers 66 are placed on the fastener 44 so that thecrank 42 and locking member 56 are properly spaced apart. Ananti-rotation device 68 is connected to a bottom of the fastener 44 sothat the fastener is prevented from rotating during rotation of thecrank 42. A locking member fastener 58 extends through the lockingmember 56 so that the locking member is connected to the body 10 and isprevented from moving during rotation of the crank 42. A bias member 54extends over a lock device 62 and the lock device 52 and bias member 54are located between the spool 46 and locking member 56 so that as gap isformed between the spool 46 and locking member 54 during rotation of thecrank 42 the lock device 52 is removed from contact with the spool 46 sothat the spool 46 is allowed to free spin such that the anchor 64 israpidly deployed.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the decoy 2 with the cover removed. Theanchor 64 extends from the front 12 of the body 10 and the anchor line60 extends through an anchor line guide 62 towards the anchor device 40and through the spool cover 48 so that the anchor is connected to thespool 46 such that as the crank 42 is used to rotate the spool 46 theanchor 64 is raised or lowered.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view 18 of the decoy 2. The bottom 18includes a head fastening device 30 that connects the head 26 to thedecoy 2. The bottom 18 includes two keel recesses 74. One keel recess 74includes a port keel 70 and the other keel recess 74 includes astarboard keel 72. The vibrator 90 is connected to the bottom 18 andlocated behind the port keel 70 and starboard keel 72.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of one example of elements on abottom 18 of the decoy. The bottom 18 includes keel recesses 74 with theport keel 70 and starboard keel 72 removed from the recesses. An anchorport 75 is illustrated in the decoy so that the anchor line (not shown)extends into and out of the decoy.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of an anchor device 40. The crank 42 isconnected to a spool 46 by a crank cap 43. A spacer 66 separates thecrank cap 43 from the spool 46. The spool 46 is covered by a spool cover48. The spool 46 is separated from the locking member 56 by a gap (G).An anti-rotation device 68 extends from a bottom of the locking member56 so that a fastener 44 (not shown) is prevented from rotating duringrotation of the crank 42. A locking member fastener 58 extends throughthe bottom of the locking member 66 so that the locking member 56 isprevented from rotating during rotation of the fastener 44 (not shown).The spool cover 48 includes a hole so that an anchor line 60 extendsfrom the anchor line guide 62 and through the spool cover 48 to thespool 46 so that the spool is used to raise and lower the anchor 64.

FIG. 8A illustrates a bottom perspective view of an anchor device 40.The anchor device includes a crank 42 that is connected to a fastener44. The fastener 44 extends through a spool 46 that is surrounded by aspool cover 48 into a locking member 56. The locking member 56 asillustrated is transparent so that the relationship of the adjoiningcomponents is visible. The fastener 44 extends into the locking member56 and into contact with an anti-rotation device 68 that is retainedbetween the locking member 56 and the bottom of the decoy (not shown) sothat the fastener 44 is prevented from rotating. A locking memberfastener 58 extends through the locking member 56 and connects thelocking member to the decoy (not shown) so that the locking member isprevented from moving. The locking member fastener 58 works inconjunction with pegs 59 that extend from the locking member 58 intorecesses (not shown) in the decoy (not shown) to assist in preventingrotation of the locking member 58. A spacer 66 is over the fastener 44and located between the locking member 56 and the spool 46 so that whenthe crank is tightened on the fastener a minimum gap is retained betweenthe spool 46 and the locking member 56 as is illustrate in FIG. 7. Athrough hole extends all of the way though the locking member 56 thatreceives a lock device 52 that rests on a bias member 54 so that when aminimum gap is present the bias member moves the lock device 52 into aspool recess 47 so that the lock device 52 prevents movement of thespool 46. The spool cover 48 includes an exit port 68 that is connectedto an anchor line guide 62 so that anchor line (not shown) can enter andexit the anchor device 40.

FIG. 8B illustrates an exploded view of an anchor device 40. The anchordevice includes a crank 42 that is connected to a crank cap 43 havingthreads that receive and connect the crank 42 to a threaded fastener 44.The fastener 44 extends through a locking member 56 and a spool 46 andincludes a pair of spacers 66 so that the crank 42 and spool 46 andspool 46 and locking member 56 are spaced apart a predetermineddistance. A spool cover 48 covers that spool 46 and includes an exitport 65 so that an anchor line (not shown) extends out of the spoolcover 48. An anti-rotation device 68 is located below a fastener 44 sothat the fastener 44 is prevented from rotating with the crank 42 suchthat the crank 42 unthreads the crank cap 43 from the fastener 44 and agap between the spool 46 and locking member 56 is increased by a biasmember 54 located over a lock device 52 so that the lock device 52 isreleased from contact with the spool 46 allowing for free rotation ofthe spool 46. The locking member 56 is locked in place by a lockingmember fastener 58 so that the locking member 56 is prevented fromrotating.

FIG. 9 illustrates a bottom view of a spool 46. The spool 46 includes aplurality of recesses 47 for receiving the lock device (not shown) sothat the spool is prevented from moving when the lock device extendsinto a recess 47.

FIG. 10 illustrates the head 26 removed from the body 10 so that thecover locking member 22 and head locking member 32 are exposed. The headlocking device 28 extends into the body 10 and when the head lockingdevice 28 is loosened the head 26 is rotatable and when the head lockingdevice 30 is tightened a complementary fit is formed between the headlocking member 32 and cover locking member 22 preventing furtherrotation of the head 26.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decoy 2. The decoy 2includes a head 26 connected by a head locking device 28. An anchordevice 40 is located within the decoy 2. The anchor device 40 includes acrank cap 43 that has a connection portion 130 and a sliding portion132. A propulsion system 80 is located on the bottom of the decoy 2 formoving the decoy 2.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a head 26 and connection device. Theconnection device includes a head locking feature 28 extending from thehead 26. The head locking feature 28 forms a connection with a headfastening device 38 that is moved by depressing an actuator 34 so thatthe head locking feature 28 is released and the head 26 can be removed.A head locking member 32 assists in preventing rotation of the head 26once the head 26 is locked in place.

FIG. 13 illustrates a close-up view of the head 26 and head lockingdevice 28 of FIG. 11. The head locking device 28 is locked in the decoyby a pair of opposing head fastening devices 30 that extend over aportion of the head locking device 28. An actuator 34 when moved spreadsthe head fastening device 30 apart so that the head locking device 28 isreleased. The actuator 34 is moved to a locked position by a returndevice 36. The head 26 is prevented from rotating by a head lockingmember 32.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the anchor device 40 ofFIG. 11. The anchor device 40 includes a crank cap 43 that includes aconnection portion 130 and a sliding portion 132. The connection portion130 has a movable connection with a fastener 44. The sliding portion 132slides up and down in the direction of the arrows between a storedposition and a working position/retraction position. The sliding portion132 and connection portion 130 include a positioning feature 110. Thepositioning feature 110 includes a pair of static members 112 that lockthe crank cap 43 in a stored position or a working position/retractionposition. A movable member 114 forms a connection with the static member112 to create resistance when the movable member 114 fits into one ofthe static members 112 so that movement of the crank cap 43 is resisted.A lock device 45 that is configured as a pin extends through theconnection portion 130 and the sliding portion 132 so that they aremovable connected together. A spool 46 is fitted between the crank cap43 and the locking member 56 so that movement of the spool 46 isrestricted. A bias member 54′ is located along the fastener 44 foraxially spacing the spool 46 from the locking member 56. Ananti-rotation device 68 is in communication with the base of thefastener 44 to prevent rotation of the fastener. A locking memberfastener 58 extends from the locking member 56 to connect the lockingmember 56 to the decoy. A bias member 54′ extends partially through thelocking member 56 to move a lock device 52 (not shown) into contact withthe spool 46 to prevent rotation.

FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom view of a decoy 2 including a propulsionsystem 80. The propulsion system 80 covers a portion of the port keel 70and the starboard keel 72 so that the keels are locked in place by thepropulsion system 80. Each keel 70, as shown includes a hole 76 and thatis covered with a cap 78.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable such as, for example,temperature, pressure, time and the like is for example, from 1 to 90,preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intendedthat values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. areexpressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are lessthan one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 asappropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intendedand all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowestvalue and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to beexpressly stated in this application in a similar manner. The use of theterms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements,ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodimentsthat consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components orsteps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that anydescribed attributes that “may” be included are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

I claim:
 1. A decoy comprising: a. a body having a bottom; b. an anchordevice comprising: i. a crank; ii. a spool extending parallel to thebottom and being connected to the crank; iii. a locking member locatedproximate to the spool, wherein a gap separates the spool and thelocking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small sothat the locking member prevents the spool from rotating and the gap ina deployment position is sufficiently large so that the spool freerotates; and iv. a bias member located between the locking member andthe spool, the bias member creating the gap between the spool and thelocking member when the crank is moved in a first direction and the gapbeing removed when the crank is moved in a second direction; c. ananchor; and d. an anchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so thatthe spool in the locked position assists in retracting the anchor and inthe deployment position allows the anchor to deploy.
 2. The decoy ofclaim 1, wherein the locking member includes a lock device and the lockdevice extends between the spool and the locking member so that rotationof the spool is prevented by the lock device when the anchor device isin the locked position.
 3. The decoy of claim 2, wherein a second biasmember is located under the lock device so that the lock device moves asa size of the gap changes from the locked position to the deploymentposition.
 4. The decoy of claim 3, wherein the gap in the deploymentposition is large enough so that the second bias member cannot move thelock device into contact with the spool to prevent movement of thespool.
 5. The decoy of claim 2, wherein the spool has a plurality ofholes for receiving the lock device to prevent rotation of the spool,and the crank is a foldable crank.
 6. The decoy of claim 1, wherein thecrank is threaded on a fastener via a crank cap and the fastenerconnects the crank to the spool so that the crank when rotated in thesecond direction retracts the anchor.
 7. The decoy of claim 6, whereinan anti-rotation device is located at an end of the fastener oppositethe crank and the anti-rotation device prevents rotation of thefastener.
 8. The decoy of claim 7, wherein the fastener extends throughthe spool and the spool is axially moved along the fastener by the biasmember as the crank is moved in the first direction.
 9. The decoy ofclaim 1, wherein the body has a hollow recess that houses the anchordevice and the anchor and anchor line extend through an exit port in thebody.
 10. A decoy comprising: a. a body having a bottom b. an anchordevice comprising: i. a crank; ii. a spool having a rotational axis thatis perpendicular to the bottom and the spool being connected to thecrank; iii. a fastener extending through the spool; iv. a locking memberlocated proximate to the spool, v. a lock device at least partiallylocated within the locking member, wherein a gap separates the spool andthe locking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficientlysmall so that the spool is prevented from rotating by the lock deviceextending between the spool and the locking member and the gap in adeployment position is sufficiently large so that the spool is disposedover the lock device and the spool is free to rotate; and vi. a biasmember located between the locking member and the spool, the bias membercreating the gap between the spool and the locking member when the crankis moved in a first direction and the gap being removed when the crankis moved in a second direction; c. an anchor; d. an anchor lineconnecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in the lockedposition assists in retracting the anchor and in the deployment positionallows the anchor to deploy; and e. one or more collapsible keelslocated on a bottom of the decoy so that during use the one or morecollapsible keels during use are extended below the decoy and duringstorage the collapsible keels are collapsed into a keel recess so thatthe one or more collapsible keels are substantially planar with thebottom of the decoy; and wherein the spool is axially moved along thefastener by the bias member, forming the gap, as the crank is moved inthe first direction.
 11. The decoy of any of claim 10, wherein a secondbias member is located under the lock device so that the lock devicemoves as a size of the gap changes from the locked position to thedeployment position.
 12. The decoy of claim 10, wherein the crank isthreaded on the fastener via a crank cap and the fastener connects thecrank to the spool so that the crank when rotated, in the seconddirection, retracts the anchor, and wherein an anti-rotation device islocated at an end of the fastener opposite the crank and theanti-rotation device prevents rotation of the fastener.
 13. The decoy ofclaim 10, wherein the spool has a plurality of holes for receiving thelock device to prevent rotation of the spool.
 14. The decoy of claim 10,wherein the body has a hollow recess that houses the anchor device andthe anchor and anchor line extend through an exit port in the body, andthe one or more collapsible keels are a port keel and a starboard keeland the port keel folds towards a first side of the decoy and thestarboard keel folds towards a second side of the decoy that is oppositethe first side.
 15. The decoy of claim 14, wherein the one or more keelsinclude one or more holes, caps, or both that allow for a weight to beinserted into the one or more keels so that the weight assists inmaintaining the decoy in an upright position.
 16. The decoy of claim 10,wherein the one or more collapsible keels are connected to the decoy onone end and the one or more collapsible keels rotate around theconnection so that the one or more collapsible keels are deployed and/orstored, and the connection is two or more unitary pins that extend froma portion of the one or more collapsible keels.
 17. The decoy of claim10, wherein the one or more collapsible keels are connected to the decoyon one end and the one or more collapsible keels rotate around theconnection so that the one or more collapsible keels are deployed and/orstored, and the connection is a rod that extends through the end of theone or more collapsible keels.
 18. The decoy of claim 10, wherein thedecoy includes a propulsion system that moves the decoy; the propulsionsystem includes an impeller, propeller, air mover, water mover, or acombination thereof that moves the decoy; and the propulsion systembeing removably attached to a connection site on the bottom of thedecoy.
 19. A decoy comprising: a. a body having a recess; b. a covercovering the recess in the body so that the decoy is substantially fluidresistant, wherein the cover includes a cover locking member; c. ananchor device located in the recess, the anchor device comprising: i. acrank; ii. a spool connected to the crank; and iii. a locking memberlocated proximate to the spool, iv. a lock device at least partiallylocated within the locking member, v. a bias member in communicationwith the lock device so that the bias member biases the lock devicetowards the spool; vi. a fastener that is connected to and extends fromthe crank to the lock device through the spool; vii. a locking memberfastener connecting the locking member to the decoy, wherein a gapseparates the spool and the locking member and the gap in a lockedposition is sufficiently small so that the spool is prevented fromrotating by the lock device extending between the spool and the lockingmember and the gap in a deployment position is sufficiently large sothat the spool is disposed over the lock device and the spool is free torotate; d. an anchor; e. an anchor line connecting the anchor to thespool so that the spool in the locked position assists in retracting theanchor and in the deployment position allows the anchor to deploy; f.one or more collapsible keels located on a bottom of the decoy so thatduring use the one or more collapsible keels during use are extendedbelow the decoy and during storage the collapsible keels are collapsedinto a keel recess so that the one or more collapsible keels aresubstantially planar with the bottom of the decoy; and g. a head havinga head locking member that is complementary to the cover locking memberso that the head is movable to a plurality of positions and the head islockable in any of the plurality of positions.
 20. The decoy of claim19, wherein the decoy includes a vibrator that vibrates the decoy andcauses movement of water around the decoy.